Ditch digger



Nov. 10, 1959 w. E. SANNER ETAL 2,911,735

DITCH DIGGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1955 Nov. 10, 1959 w. E. SANNER ETAL 2,911,735

DITCH DIGGER Filed Nov. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Weldon 5. Sana-er Robert W. Decker IN VEN TOR5, 7 9

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Amway:

DITCH DIGGER Weldon E. Sanner, Rockwood, and Robert W. Decker,

Garrett, Pa.

Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,301

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 37--98) This invention relates to a ditch digger for use in excavating or digging trenches or ditches and is an improvement on Patent No. 2,590,352, issued March 25, 1952. I

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a ditch digger which is adapted to facilitate the excavation of trenches and ditches in a convenient manner.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a ditch digger which employs a tractor vehicle having lifting arms.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a ditch digger which includes a pair of side members which are convergent upwardly and divergent rearwardly and which cooperate with a pair of forwardly converging side plates to conveniently dispose of the excavated earth to the rear of the ditch digger as the ditch digger is moving in its selected path.

Incorporated in the invention are a pair of angularly forwardly converging mold plates which are aflixed to the lift arms of a tractor vehicle and to which a base plate as well as side plates are attached whereby the angular relationship of the cutting and digging elements of the invention may be adjusted to facilitate the work to be done thereby, depending, of course, upon the condition and type of ground which is being excavated.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a ditch digger that is simple in construction, strong and durable, eificient in operation, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together With the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this ditch digger, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the ditch digger comprising the present invention and showing in phantom lines the ditch digger in position for excavation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the ditch digger;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical sectional view as taken along the planes indicated by the broken section line 3--3 in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a partial front elevational view of the ditch digger.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the reference numeral is used to designate the ditch digger comprising the present invention. This ditch digger includes a tractor vehicle 12 and a pair of lift arms 14 and 16, having a pair of angularly converging portions 18 and 20, respectively. The portions 18 and 20 of the lift arms 14 and 16 have links 22 and 24 which are pivoted thereto and have crank arms 26 and 28 pivotally attached thereto, the crank arms being actuated by hydraulic cylinders 30 and 32 or other United States Patent 2,911,735 Patented Nov. 10, 1959 suitable means so as to provide motive power for lifting the lift arms 14 and 16 as may be desired.

Afiixed to the lift arm portions 18 and 20 are a pair of forwardly converging mold plates 34 and 36 which may be detachably secured tothe portions 18 and 20 as by bolts or pins as at 38 and 40 or other suitable fastening means and which are joined at their forward ends (Fig. 4). The bolts or pins 38 and 40 extend through aligned pairs of apertured ears 37, 39 and 43, 45, respectively. At the upper end of the mold plates 34 and 36 there is mounted a plate 42 which carries a pair of ears 44 and 46. Either rigidly secured or pivotally attached as by hinges 48, (Fig. 3) is a base plate 50 which has a rearwardly opening notch 51 fitting against plates 34 and 36. Secured to the base plate as by welding or the like are a pair of upwardly converging rearwardly diverging side plates 52 and 54 which may have a concave shape and which are afiixed to the base plate 50 in inwardly spaced relation from the peripheral edges thereof to form a peripheral flange as at 56. A front point 58 may be provided if such is desired and the side portions 52 and 54 may be reinforced by suitable rivets, bolts, or the like as at 60. Alternatively, the blades 58 can be made integral with the base plate 50.

Secured to the base plate 50 and to the side plates 52 and 54 is a pair of plates as can be best seen at 62, see Fig. 3. of a rigidifying brace 64 and a pin 66 extends through the plates 62 and through the brace 64 to hold the brace in position. A pin 68 extends through one of a row of apertures 70 formed in the other end of the brace 64 and through the cars 44 and 46 to hold the brace 64 in a selected position. Hence, if the base plate 50 is connected to the mold plates 34 and 36 by means of a pivotal connection of any suitable type, e.g., hinges 48, the brace 64 Will serve to adjust the angle of the blade as it digs into the earth as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

From the foregoing it is seen that two constructions are described, one having the base and the structure attached to it capable of pivoting about hinges or some other pivots which are secured to the mold plates 34 and 36. The second construction described is where the base 50 and the majority of the structure connected with it are fixedly secured with respect to the mold plates 34 and 36.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ditch digger comprising a tractor Vehicle, a pair of lift arms affixed to said tractor vehicle, means for pivoting said lift arms, a pair of forwardly converging mold plates aflixed to said arms, said mold plates being joined at their forward ends, ears secured to said mold plates, a base plate of substantially triangular shape having a V- shaped notch in its rear edge portion secured to said mold plates, a pair of side members secured at their lower edges tosaid base plate and extending rearwardly with the rear edges thereof being affixed to said mold plates, said side members being convergent upwardly and divergent rearwardly, and a rigidifying bar terminally secured to said ears and to said side members adjacent the front ends of said side members.

2. A ditch digging blade assembly for attachment to the lift arms of a tractor, comprising a pair of substantially vertical mold boards disposed in forwardly convergent relation and secured together at their forward ends, a generally triangularly shaped base plate having its Positioned between these plates is one end rearward end provided with a V-shaped notch andfixedly secured in abutting relation to the forward ends of said mold boards at the lower edges thereof and being disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with such lower edges of the mold boards, forming a continuation thereof, a pair of side plates mounted on said base plate in inwardly spaced relation to the opposite side edges thereof so as to provide laterally projecting flanges outwardly of :the juncture of said side plates and said base plate,- said side plates being longitudinally concave and disposed in upwardly and forwardly convergent relation and secured along their lower and rear edges to said base plate and said mold boards, respectively, and with the points of attachmentto the mold boards being intermediate the ends thereof, said base plate being truncated at its forward end to present a flat nose portion, and said side plates extending forwardly to and terminating at said forward end of the base plate with the forward edges of said side plates being secured together and extending rearwardly upwardly from said forward edge of the base plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,716 Werner Aug. 15, 1939 2,364,657 Procter Dec. 12, 1944 2,564,034 Seeger Aug. 14, 1951 2,590,352 Sanner et al. Mar. 25, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 949,513 France Feb. 21, 1949. 

